Check out our recap of the Faith and Health Summit!

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

About

The North Carolina Council of Churches was founded in 1935. We are a statewide ecumenical organization promoting Christian unity and working towards a more just society. Our membership is composed of 26 distinct judicatories from 18 denominations.

We have a proven record of moving ahead of the curve on the social issues of its day even when our position was not popular among the churches or the culture. While the issues we address mirror the attitude of most progressive organizations around us, we have a singular starting place. We refract everything through the lens of faith. This starting place offers a different tenor to the conversation and leads to conclusions grounded in God’s intention for the flourishing of all creation.

The Council enables denominations, congregations, and people of faith to impact our state on issues such as economic justice and development, human well-being, equality, compassion and peace, following the example and mission of Jesus Christ.

Founded in 1935 to address racial inequality, the North Carolina Council of Churches was quite possibly the first place in North Carolina, or even the southeast, that white and black leaders sat together as equals around the same table to address issues mutually important to all. Our members include 26 judicatories of 18 denominations and seven individual congregations. Across the state, our members have over 6,200 congregations with about 1.5 million congregants. We reach into every corner of North Carolina and have a presence in nearly every neighborhood and community. The Council has often acted courageously in the face of hostility and always spoken prophetically in the face of injustice.

Our primary program areas right now are environmental justice and health and welfare. We are also extensively advocating around gun violence prevention, public education, raising wages, overdose awareness, racial equity, HIV advocacy, mental health advocacy, death penalty abolition, cash bail reform, and immigrants’ rights. With each new enterprise, the Council frequently finds itself out in front of where society and the church eventually end up.

While the issues we address mirror the attitude of most progressive organizations around us, we have a singular starting place regardless of the topic. We refract everything through the lens of faith.

Religious belief and faith practices remain an important part of the fabric of North Carolinians. By highlighting this common heritage, the Council provides an essential added ingredient for the hope that “every North Carolinian has the resources and opportunities to achieve their full potential . . .” Indeed, our faith calls us to nothing less.

Jennifer Copeland, Executive Director
jennifer@ncchurches.org
Recent Articles
Jennifer is a native of South Carolina and an ordained minister in The United Methodist Church. She loves South Carolina, but has managed to spend all but ten years of her adult life in North Carolina. Those ten years were spent pastoring United Methodist churches across the Upstate. She attended Duke University several times and in the process earned a BA, double majoring in English and Religion, a Master of Divinity, a PhD in religion, and a Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies. Prior to coming to the Council, she spent 16 years as the United Methodist Chaplain at Duke University, where she also taught undergraduate and divinity school classes, served on committees and task forces, and attended lots of basketball games. She writes frequently for various publications when time permits and preaches regularly in congregations across North Carolina.

Sharon Jarrells, Office Manager
sharon@ncchurches.org
Recent Articles

Sharon was raised in NYC in the South Bronx. She has 20 years of office management experience, mostly in the legal field. She is excited to be working for the NC Council of Churches as their Office Manager. She has lived in all over including New York, West Virginia, North Carolina and Texas. Sharon and her husband, Timothy, moved to NC in 1990 after getting married. She has two adult son's, Travaris and Bernard and a small Pomeranian. In her free time she likes to cook, entertain, and read.


Sean Allen, Director of Finance and Administration
sean@ncchurches.org
Recent Articles
Sean was raised in Austin, Texas where he attended the University of Texas. After earning a BBA with an emphasis in Accounting and Master in Professional Accounting, he attended George W. Truett Theological Seminary where he met his wife, Jamie, and they both earned a Master of Divinity. Prior to coming to the Council, Sean spent twenty years in congregational ministry, most recently as Senior Pastor of a Baptist church in Raleigh, and two years in financial administration for a number of churches in the Triangle. When he is not cheering for his Texas Longhorns, Sean enjoys community theater, playing golf, watching sports, and spending time with his wife and their three children: Avery, Hannah, and Max.

Susannah Tuttle, Director, NC Interfaith Power & Light
susannah@ncipl.org
Recent Articles
Rev. Susannah Tuttle is the director of NC Interfaith Power & Light, an initiative of the NC Council of Churches Eco-Justice Connection, addressing environmental and climate justice issues as a moral imperative. Susannah received a Masters of Divinity degree with an emphasis on ecological ethics from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. Susannah is a founding member of the Southeast Faith Leaders Network (SFLN) and is an active member of the US Climate Action Network. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the Southeast Climate & Energy Network (SCEN) and serves as the director of community outreach for the US Climate Fair Share collaborative. Susannah lives on a gravel road in Orange County, NC with her husband who is a builder, gardener, and musician, and their two beloved dogs.

Ren Martin, NCIPL & Eco-Justice Connection Program Coordinator
ren@ncchurches.org
Recent Articles
Ren Martin recently joined the NC Council of Churches team in July, after working at Virginia Interfaith Power & Light as a communications coordinator. Ren is a Fall 2021 graduate of Virginia Tech, where they earned their bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences, with minors in urban forestry and leadership. During their time at Virginia Tech, they were able to teach title I school children, lead as a VP in a student organization, and worked with North Carolina's Cooperative Extension. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Ren grew up visiting their grandparents in the countryside of Buckingham, VA. Due to these experiences, they have a profound love for the environment, making artwork, and meeting new people. Ren was raised as a Catholic and later came back to the faith during their time in college. Now, Ren's spirituality is a large part of their life, and they are eager to learn from all walks of life. Ren hopes to bring about positive change in the world around them through visual storytelling, communication, and outreach. Through this, Ren aims to uplift and empower people to create a more sustainable future for us all.

Rachel Baker, Communications Director
rachel@ncchurches.org
Recent Articles

Rachel was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. She is an Appalachian State University alumni with a passion for systemic transformation and equity for all North Carolina residents. Rachel joined the Council is 2018 as Immigration Program Coordinator and her role has since transformed to Communications Director. She enjoys contributing her knowledge and expertise to help promote positive social change through communications and graphic design. In her free time, Rachel loves spending time outside with her wife and two labs, playing rugby, and dancing.


Nicole Johnson, Interim Co-Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness
nicole@ncchurches.org
Recent Articles
Nicole has had the wonderful opportunity of living in different countries, having been born in Belize City, and currently calling North Carolina home. She is deeply convicted in her belief that faithful congregations can meet the environmental, social and ethical challenges of the 21st century in practical and tangible ways. Her travels and beliefs have motivated her to seek ways of merging faith, health, sustainability, justice and ethics. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to be working with congregations and individuals in creating and supporting more healthy communities. Nicole is a graduate of Salem College and of the dual degree MDiv/MA program in sustainability at Wake Forest University. Her favorite things to do include traveling, hiking, reading, growing things, trying new recipes, and spending time with family.

Rev. Jessica Stokes, Interim Co-Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness
jessica@ncchurches.org
Recent Articles
Rev. Jessica Stokes is the Associate Director of Partners in Health and Wholeness leading our state-wide mental health advocacy efforts. Jessica earned her Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University and BS in Clinical Psychology from Averett University. She is an ordained Baptist minister and joined the Council’s staff in 2016 after directing an interfaith non-profit in Washington State. Jessica’s background includes non-profit work, hospital chaplaincy, interfaith campus ministry, and the local church. Her convictions are rooted in experiences that range from ministry in Appalachia, as a chaplain in a psychiatric hospital, to learning about systemic issues Eastern NC while living in Greenville and Wilmington, as a PHW Regional Coordinator. She seeks authentic and earnest conversation. Jessica’s work for PHW includes a focus on mental health education and advocacy, specifically tailored for faith communities. Jessica is based in Durham with her wife, Vanessa, and two pets. 

Arlecia Simmons, Partners in Health and Wholeness East Regional Associate Director
arlecia@ncchurches.org
Recent Articles
A native of South Carolina, Arlecia has previously called North Carolina home and started her professional career off in the state as a journalist in Eden. She was a journalism educator in Charlotte and later served as a minister in Durham while attending Duke Divinity School, where she earned her Master of Divinity.  She is an ordained Baptist minister and formerly served as a senior pastor in the United Church of Christ. Before joining the Council in August 2022, she taught at Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C., and directed a project to provide professional development to clergy and lay leaders pivoting during COVID-19. Her interest in health and wellness developed as a newspaper reporter covering health issues and new legislation such as HIPAA. Her convictions are rooted in experiences ranging from seeing members of her family and community plagued by the many comorbidities amplified during the pandemic. She is invested in how systemic issues such as gentrification and food and housing insecurity impact health and wholeness and prevent BIPOC people and those in rural communities from thriving. Arlecia is based in Fayetteville, and she enjoys educating people on her Gullah Geechee culture and publishing books and digital content that she hopes will lead to emotional healing and spiritual renewal.

Elizabeth Brewington, Associate Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness, Overdose Response
elizabeth@ncchurches.org
Recent Articles
Elizabeth is a native North Carolinian, who spent most of her life in Greensboro before deciding to explore the Midwest for college. She graduated from the College of Wooster in Ohio, where she received a dual Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Religious Studies. After college, she returned to North Carolina and did a year of service through the Episcopal Service Corps. Elizabeth joined the Council in 2018 and loves being a part of the Partners in Health and Wholeness Program. Her work is focused on ending the overdose crisis, harm reduction, and drug policy. In her free time, she loves watching TV with friends and family and constantly annoying them with her many references.

Stephenie Sanders, Partners in Health and Wholeness Program and Engagement Administrator
stephenie@ncchurches.org
Recent Articles
Stephenie has called North Carolina home for most of her life, living in various cities throughout the Piedmont and Triangle areas. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from UNC-Greensboro. Singing gigs in churches eventually led her to a career of working for religious organizations, where she found great meaning in supporting the church's work for justice and showing compassion to the members of the church and the wider community. Stephenie joined the PHW staff in August 2022 after working for Binkley Baptist Church (Chapel Hill) for seven years as their Office Manager/Ministry Support Manager. She is thrilled to join PHW in their work to help faith communities live healthy, abundant lives. In her spare time, she loves to sing, bake, spend quality time with her friends, and watch reality competition shows (ask her anything about Survivor). She lives in Chapel Hill with her cat, aptly named Kitty.

Krista Westervelt, Associate Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness, Healthy Aging
krista@ncchurches.org
Recent Articles
Krista completed her Senior Practicum internship in Peace and Conflict Studies with us in Fall 2021 before transitioning into her current role at PHW supporting our healthy aging initiatives. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Greensboro with a Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies and a minor in Gerontology in May 2022 and will begin graduate studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Fall 2022 in pursuit of her Master of Divinity.Prior to joining PHW, Krista served the Chatham County Council on Aging as the organization’s Development and Communications Director. During her tenure at the Council on Aging, she was a featured panelist at the 2020 Meals on Wheels Virtual Conference and a co-facilitator on Senior Support and Care at the “Mental Health and Well-Being During the Pandemic” event hosted by NC State’s Institute for Emerging Issues. Krista is a member of The Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist.

Hannah Klein, Eco-Justice Youth Leadership Fellow
Recent Articles
Hannah is currently a senior at Appalachian State University. She is pursuing a double major of Sustainable Development and Religious Studies, with Honors. After school, she plans to take time to engage with practical theology and social activism, then to apply to graduate programs for a Masters of Divinity. With NCIPL she aspires to create a national network of Interfaith, Power & Light youth leaders who will collaborate to form creative solutions for environmental and social injustice. She is passionate about the power of spirituality to influence people’s engagement in social action; thus, Hannah utilizes an interfaith-based platform to communicate our moral responsibility to protect creation. In her personal life, she spends time reading, exercising, being in nature, and hanging out with her corgi, Milo.

David LaMotte, Consultant for Peace
david@ncchurches.org
Recent Articles
David LaMotte is a graduate of James Madison University, where he became passionate about mediation and alternative conflict resolution in the late eighties and the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, where he completed a master’s degree in International Relations, Peace and Conflict Resolution. David is a member of the Swannanoa Valley Friends Meeting, but also has one foot in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Collins Kilburn, Executive Director Emeritus
Collins Kilburn served as Executive Director of the Council for 20 years prior to his retirement in 2000. He was named Executive Director Emeritus by the Council’s Executive Board in December, 2005. A native of Memphis, Collins graduated from Memphis State College and received his M.Div. from Duke.  He is an ordained United Church of Christ minister, a member of Community United Church of Christ in Raleigh, and a watch care member of Olin Binkley Memorial Baptist Church in Chapel Hill. Kilburn’s career with the Council spanned a total of 30 years, 10 of that as Director of Social Ministries, which included representing the Council on legislative issues.  He wrote and performed folk songs linked to social justice issues of the time, such as “Take It All Off,” aimed at the repeal of the food tax and “Do You Have Room for a Little Boom Boom?” related to the MX missile. Since retiring, he has found more time for tennis and for leading adult education programs focused on spiritual giants of our time.  He and his wife, Martha Hamilton, share four children and seven grandchildren.

The Council takes positions on issues through policy statements which inform, guide and frame our work. Policy statements are adopted by our governing body, often upon recommendation of one or more of the Council’s program committees which are made up of representatives of our member bodies.

Officers

The Rev. Isaac Villegas, President

Mennonite Church USA
Durham, NC

The Rev. Dr. Conrad Pridgen, President-Elect

African Methodist Episcopal Church - Second Episcopal District
Whittsett, NC

The Rev. Dr. Claire Robinson, Church Women United Representative

Church Women United
Winston-Salem , NC

The Rev. Deborah Suess, Secretary

Religious Society of Friends - N.C. Fellowship of Friends
Greensboro, NC

The Rev. Claire Clyburn, Treasurer

United Methodist Church - North Carolina Conference
Raleigh, NC

The Rev. Mindy Douglas, Immediate Past President

Presbytery of New Hope (PCUSA)
Durham, NC

At-Large Members

The Rev. Ernesto Barriguete

United Methodist Church - North Carolina Conference
Greenville, NC

Pat Boswell

United Church of Christ - Southern Conference
Greensboro, NC

The Rev. Hanna Broome

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church - Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District
Fayetteville, NC

The Rev. Christy Clore

Moravian Church in America - Southern Province
Winston-Salem , NC

The Rev. Maryann Crea

At-Large (Catholic)
Durham, NC

The Rev. Richard Elliott

Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina
Wilmington, NC

The Rev. Alan Felton

United Methodist Church - North Carolina Conference

The Rev. Erika Funk

Presbytery of Charlotte (PCUSA)
Charlotte, NC

The Rev. Jill Isola

Presbytery of Western North Carolina (PCUSA)
Hickory, NC

The Rev. Allison Mahaley

At-Large (Unitarian Universalist)
Hillsborough, NC

The Rev. Erin Maxfield-Steele

Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina
Asheville, NC

The Rev. James Maynard

Reformed Churches of God in Christ International
Advance, NC

The Rev. Dr. Paul McAllister

At-Large (Missionary Baptist Church)
Charlotte, NC

The Rev. Kendal McBroom

At-Large (African Methodist Episcopal Church)
Burlington, NC

Bishop Valerie J. Melvin

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in North Carolina
Wilson, NC

The Rev. Daran Mitchell

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church - Piedmont Episcopal District
Greensboro, NC

The Rev. William Pegues

Christian Methodist Episcopal - Carolina Conference
Greensboro, NC

The Rev. Dr. Christy Lohr Sapp

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - North Carolina Synod
Hickory, NC

The Rev. Lia Scholl

Wake Forest Baptist
Winston-Salem, NC

The Rev. Albert Shuler

At-Large (United Methodist Church)
Greenville, NC

The Rev. Amelia Stinson-Wesley

United Methodist Women
Pineville, NC

The Rev. Deborah Suess

Religious Society of Friends - N.C. Fellowship of Friends
Greensboro, NC

The Rev. John Taylor

Presbytery of Coastal Carolina (PCUSA)
Sanford, NC

The Rev. Sarah Woodard, Deacon

Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
Durham, NC

General Committee Chairs

The Rev. Albert Shuler , Business & Finance Committee Chair

At-Large (United Methodist Church)
Greenville, NC

The Rev. Dr. Christy Lohr Sapp, Christian Unity Committee Chair

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - North Carolina Synod
Hickory, NC

The Rev. Isaac Villegas, Executive Committee Chair

Mennonite Church USA
Durham, NC

The Rev. Lia Scholl, Peace Committee Chair

Wake Forest Baptist
Winston-Salem, NC

The Rev. Hanna Broome , Personnel Committee Chair

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church - Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District
Fayetteville, NC

The Rev. Dr. Conrad Pridgen, Planning Committee Chair

African Methodist Episcopal Church - Second Episcopal District
Whittsett, NC

The Rev. Renee Hayes, Public Education Committee Chair

United Methodist Church - Western North Carolina Conference
Trinity, NC

The Rev. Dr. Paul McAllister, Racial Equity Committee Chair

At-Large (Missionary Baptist Church)
Charlotte, NC

The Rev. Maryann Crea, Resource & Development Committee Chair

At-Large (Catholic)
Durham, NC